Tank Chats

[@nl-oc9ew]

If you're ever feeling useless, or like everything is pointless, just remember. Some people took the time to dislike this video. You're doing ok by comparison.

[@Ole_CornPop]

That's just the War Thunder players that are frustrated at this rank.

[@kenbrown2808]

if David Fletcher says they don't know what it is, then they don't know what it is.

[@iatsd]

So what he didn't say is that it doesn't have the production serial plate on it, because if it did then they'd know what it is. Odds on, it's a MkIV that's gone through at least 2 update cycles.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@iatsd as I recall, that is fletcher's opinion, as well, and I'm inclined to trust his expertise.

[@laszlokaestner5766]

@@kenbrown2808 Same here!

[@jayklink851]

Mr. Fletcher is awesome! Recently on a different channel, I follow British politics, I left a comment stating, the BTM "has new Puma/CHIV videos". To which someone replied, "Fletcher is the greatest" and "his humor is dryer than the North African campaign". I thought that was a rather clever statement.

[@kenbrown2808]

@@jayklink851 I think he has the perfect delivery for the tank chats.

[@reubensandwich9249]

"To see a Mark VIII 95mm, you have to go to Australia, although it's easier to get out there as it used to be, it's a bit of a way to go to see one tank."

[@shanepower9201]

He says that about every tank in Kublinka too haha

[@campincarl567]

Australia's a bit of a way to go even in Australia.

[@markfryer9880]

@@campincarl567 Darn right it's big. Spend a day driving in Europe and you cross several countries. Spend a day driving in Australia and you are still within your original state.

[@MrNScatt]

Not at the moment. They’re letting hardly anyone in.

[@sevensprings460]

There is more than one tank to see here in Australia, and plenty of other stuff to see as well!

[@melaniejason3912]

How can you not love the lads at the tank museum? Have a good day chaps and stay healthy and safe.

[@fuferito]

My favorite British WWII tank, by far, since that nook between the tracks seems custom made to give our David Fletcher a big hug.

[@derekmcmanus8615]

There is a great example on the seafront in Carrickfergus Northern Ireland...some of the early examples where built in a factory there

[@gunner678]

I agree! It's the epitome of a tank. Laughed at and ridiculed by so many, and yet the good old Vauxal built A22 soldiered on to the end of WW2 and even saw service in Korea. Some soldiered on further into the late 1970s believe it or not. I remember seeing one (engineering vehicle) when I first went on exercise on Salisbury plain in the late 70s. They even service in the Irish army.

[@gunner678]

@@derekmcmanus8615 I remember that tank. I have a good friend who lives there. Haven't seen him for years.

[@cobalt2672]

Mr. Fletcher sounded a bit winded in this one - hope he's alright!

[@JackDrinkn2DollarJim]

The weight of His Mustache is slowing His down.

[@vasili1207]

Jokes aside he did sound off

[@Hopolit1]

Indeed it sounds like he has a cold or something, I hope it's nothing serious

[@Marc83Aus]

I noticed immediately, I hope its just a cold. I'm sure David has his bad days, could just be tired.

[@thomassmart4088]

its just how he gets around Churchills

[@alexbell9443]

David Fletcher, the most wholesome man on youtube

[@edwardzdankiewicz9068]

wellllllll, he is explaining killing machines

[@robertspence831]

In the kindest way possible...@@edwardzdankiewicz9068

[@TheSpritz0]

When David Fletcher speaks, we in Canada are listening!!!!

[@06colkurtz]

In the US Army, we call it battle carry. Depending on the anticipated threat battle carry may be HEAT or Sabot. For more open terrain the Sabot is preferred because its higher accuracy. When in battle carry, the rangefinder is preset to "battle sight" range. 1200 meters for close terrain and out to 1800 meters for open terrain. "Gunner, Battlesight, Tank on right" "Up" "Identified" "Fire" " On the way" then the loader will automatically reload the same round as was in battle carry unless ordered to change the round.

[@iatsd]

Almost the exact opposite of the British Army where you would *always* pre-load HESH. Depending on what you expected to engage, you would either wait for the reload order or, if you expected tanks, the loader might be lap loading a fin round.

[@builder396]

To be fair though, in WWII it was probably less terrain type and more what threats you were expecting, and in Normandies tanks or StuGs were occasional nuisances that cropped up here and there, and soldiers with Panzerfausts lurking in bushes really the thing you had to deal with a lot, so HE made sense. Plus if you shoot HE at a tank, if you hit I imagine it would still make quite a bang, scaring the hell out of the crew for a second, and a close miss will still stir up dirt. If you fire AP at infantry.....you better hope youre a very good shot to kill someone.

[@sw96]

@@builder396 IIRC from one of the many tank history videos I’ve watched US tank crews usually preferred to travel with HE loaded. The main reasons being that they were more likely to encounter infantry or towed AT guns, so HE was more effective, and it was easier to see the fall of shot of a HE round so you’d be able to adjust range for your next shot more easily, first round hits being a rarity during WW2.

[@coaxill4059]

@@iatsd Interesting, do you know why HESH is preferred? I would've thought of HESH as more of a specialty round compared to sabot which works on everything.

[@iatsd]

@@coaxill4059 Sabot does nothing against infantry or light vehicles. HESH will ruin *everyone's* day and make them duck/rethink their life choices while you choose the optimum second round follow up.

[@derekmills1080]

Thank you, David, for yet another fascinating 'tank chat'.

[@elitely6748]

This is just so satisfying have a great weekend men!

[@themooch8752]

U2 m8

[@JessWLStuart]

Always a good day when I can watch a new video of David Fletcher!

[@laurentpremel]

Such a dedication with so much humour deserves the best regards of even a french. Chapeau bas Monsieur !

[@Subcomandante73]

Another great chat about a great tank. Mr Fletcher is wonderful.

[@chronicmaster7689]

David fletcher isn’t allowed to go anywhere until he’s imparted ALL of his knowledge about tanks:’)

[@hendoiii3487]

I love this guy. We need more like him. Unfortunately he wont last forever which makes me sad. Hopefully you are with us for a long time. Love your chats.

[@steve1315]

The Legend is back , never need a excuse to go back to Australia but seeing a rare tank tops it.

[@StaffordMagnus]

Come and see the only remaining A7V too!

[@babaganoush6106]

@@StaffordMagnus also a plethora of my personal fave.....the Matilda! Arguably the saviour of the western world....and beaufighter etc

[@Jockulation]

@@StaffordMagnus And the only remaining BF 109 in the world with it's original camouflage and markings.

[@steve1315]

@@StaffordMagnus gutted love the A7V didn't know it was in Queens land when I was there.

[@mikepette4422]

best part of this was the stowage sketch ! that was very cool to read and see reading this its clear that they carried a Thompson SMG AND (maybe) a Sten SMG it says "if carried" So its possible they had 2 self defense weapons on board which makes sense for a crew of 5

[@anananandsdsdsds3486]

There's a bit in one of Nicholas Moran's videos where he lists off all the extra personal defence kit they were issued for the Gulf. Down to and including a shotgun, for reasons never made adequately clear.

[@genericpersonx333]

@@anananandsdsdsds3486 Shotguns are for things you want to be making more than a singular hole in. This is includes, but is not limited to, doors, people, and animals. Shotguns also have the nice effect of being very intimidating, which is great for scaring off pesky civilians who don't quite understand at first that the stuff on the tank is not theirs to take or that they should really not stand in front of a tank yelling at it when it is trying to proceed down a road.

[@miksstudio]

Impressive tank, more so to me because my grand father worked at Vauxhall, he helped build these during the war. He was exempt from war service because he did so. I got to actually touch a Churchill once and it was emotional thinking my grand dad could've touched the same tank.

[@jayklink851]

Mr. Fletcher is awesome! Recently on a different channel, I follow British politics, I left a comment stating, the BTM "has new Puma/CHIV videos". To which someone replied, "Fletcher is the greatest" and "his humor is dryer than the North African campaign". I thought that was a rather fitting, and clever, statement.

[@Xzibit9]

"Machinegun anyone who gets infront of it." Thats a good way of sorting out problems, noted.

[@orenashkenazi9813]

I'm just a simple Tank Museum fan. If the Mustache tells me it's a Mark IV, it's a Mark IV.

[@Th3Bishop3]

I do as the mustache guides.

[@michaelguerin56]

Another discourse by the master! 🙂 No wasted words, as always.

[@lucisferre6361]

Though this video being longer would be great, it's still 6 minutes and 45 more seconds of unconditional happiness than I expected to have at present. Thanks much!

[@hansmueller3029]

Loving the straightforward delivery "..you can't see it so don't worry about it.."

[@wesor8688]

This tank has satisfyed me for a long time

[@jansenart0]

Looks like the main defining characteristic would be the location of the bolt hole for the ammunition stowage, with the mk VI being further forward to accommodate the spare parts box, assuming this drawing is to scale (also for 5 fewer rounds).

[@RM-wx8xx]

if this guy taught my history class this way id be in class way more

[@lesliestephenson1298]

Another identifying item is the turret itself, Location of ventilator, fitment of an armour protection plate on the turret ring and deletion of the armoured under hang at the rear lower turret.

[@loupiscanis9449]

Thank you , Mr Fletcher .

[@rickcheyne]

If anyone knows Churchill tanks, it's David Fletcher. The main differences between the mark iv and mark vi are the geared elevation vs shoulder-mounted manual elevation and armoured ammunition stowage vs un-armoured.

[@markmccummins8049]

Cheers, David Fletcher! Good essay on the 75mm Churchill.

[@gavinphillips3973]

Interesting, I do believe this tank came from the former Isle of Wight tank museum. I was wondering what happened to it after it left there and where it ended up. At least its safe indoors! Another great video about my favourite British AFV. :)

[@indyrock8148]

On Thursday morning I was picking up some old tyres to run a steel tracked excavator on a road. An old cobber came out and started telling me about his father's earmoving business post war. They used Grant tanks as dozers and for pulling scrapers to build the roads around the snowy mountains. They used the belly armour to build the dozer blades. Interesting.

[@quinnfell3824]

Another fantastic video. So grateful to have this resource made available to us.

[@LordFred69]

glad you're back in the museum

[@bimble7240]

00:38 - Main Mark VI upgrade " 9 TINS, BISCUITS, BELOW PANNIER SHELL BIN". Can't see where the Kettle, Milk and Sugar are, must have missed it. Obviously a much more effective weapon.

[@yereverluvinuncleber]

Very good! A bit of honey and lemon for the moustache I think.

[@tommygun333]

Nice to listen Mr Moustache speaking about Churchill again!

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

It is certainly easier to get to Australia these days: a criminal record is no longer compulsory :)

[@grumpyboomer61]

The downside is that The Crown no longer provides your travel arrangements.

[@bob_the_bomb4508]

@@grumpyboomer61 although now you can get a return ticket :)

[@druidstone733]

I fear it’s not easy atm. COVID has closed our borders, even at times our internal State borders, so anyone from overseas wishing to see the VIII here is probably going to have wait for some time. Even Australian citizens are waiting months to get a flight home.

[@filibertkraxner305]

I fear British humour is lost on the Australians these days, lol.

[@beast0339]

So I watched this video when it was uploaded, and KZbin gave me the notification *four days* late. Nice one

[@READYTEDDYBEAR]

The good weather is coming again are we getting David and Finn in the garden videos again?

[@Davey-Boyd]

That would be grand

[@wudruffwildcard252]

It is always amazing how small guns were on british tanks. This is a beast with a toothpick as a weapon.

[@fatherglyn]

Friday afternoon and a tank chat! Does it get better?

[@derekmcmanus8615]

Two tank chats? 🤔

[@pirotechnika3914]

Yay! New tanks chat!

[@patclaydon6088]

David Fletcher--fantastic chats, as always! "A bit tatty"!!

[@eze8970]

Thank you, good information.

[@jimtaylor294]

Good vid', as always. The absolute rarest Churchill variant though would be the *A22D Churchill Gun Carrier* , of which the only known surviving example is at Bovington... in a less than ideal condition :-( . (a pity; because the A22D is the only WWII example of a British Casemated Self Propelled Gun [TD being a US thing]) That; and only the very earliest Churchill's couldn't fire H/E, because the 2Pdr was never supplied with the [inadequate] round therefore. The 6Pdr H/E was wanting certainly (unlike the A/P round), but better than nothing.

[@michaelmanning5379]

A trip to Australia is worth it because you also get to see the last real A7

[@riff2072]

2:29 Great picture.

[@nickdanger3802]

3.27 "some took out Panthers and that sort of thing" Used the same ammo as the US 75mm.

[@e-4airman124]

thank you

[@TrailsTrailsTrails]

"To see a Mark VIII 95mm, you have to go to Australia, [...] it's a bit of a way to go to see one tank." Not if you're watching this FROM Australia. Then it's just down the road. Greetings from Down Under

[@maxpayne2574]

The gun was made of left over bits in the garden shed of Fred Attwood number 18 Charing Cross Way.

[@raymondkisner9240]

Amazing tank that did its duty !

[@dronessential]

We need a Cobi model of this one.

[@jeffthomas3707]

I love the Churchill, it's a beast.

[@JUNIsLuke]

We love this man 💕

[@billyruffian1426]

Looking at the annotated layout drawings, the most significant difference between the mark IV and the mark VI is that the latter has a special little place for storing biscuits.

[@wadejustanamerican1201]

Wonderful information. Thank you and have a great weekend.

[@ryn884]

David Fletcher is a legend

[@rileyernst9086]

Might be a way to go and see one tank in Australia, but if you stop in Brisbane on your way through you can visit Meiphesto. The sole surviving A7V. And the thrice stolen tank! Stolen from the jerry, stolen from the Queenslanders, then bloody well stolen back!

[@alowry2002]

The critical difference between the Mark VI and the Mark IV is that the later model has biscuit tins on each side of the inside of the turret.

[@Sonofdonald2024]

Just ordered the collection of Mr Fletcher's books that are being reprinted. Can't wait :)

[@errolkim1334]

I didn't look at the storage instructions. They're SECRET

[@vfr400r3l]

Would you know which model is owned by the Irish Army in the Athlone. Seen it a few times but unsure

[@libertycosworth8675]

As usual, a very interesting video... Thanks!

[@kippamip]

T14 to the left and I can't work out if that's a vickers model of some sort on the right?

[@wideyxyz2271]

Right lads we are having a field trip out to Oz to see a Churchill. Best pack some sandwiches and a drink its quite a way!

[@TheDkeeler]

That hull mounted machine gun would seem to have a terrible field of fire.

[@earlyriser8998]

nice explanation

[@Xyzabc998]

Fascinating.

[@andrewclayton4181]

I like the Churchill. It's chunky, heavily armoured, and will go anywhere.. if the 75mm fired AP and HE, what was the advantage of that howitzer gun he mentioned at the end?

[@Davey-Boyd]

Good against bunkers and large buildings etc. A German sniper hold up in a building would not want that thing firing back.

[@russellborn515]

Bigger shell, bigger HE charge, bigger boom.

[@williamcooper126]

David Fletcher Is the Chuck Norris of Tank knowledge.

[@military-vehicles]

Dangerous machine!!

[@irinashidou9524]

One of the best tanks of the war. Great armour, sufficient gun and actually had a functioning engine

[@stevethomas4310]

'and machine gunned anyone who got in the way' - clasic

[@VonChoker]

Well as I live in Australia, I'll have to check it out

[@Emtbtoday]

Looks like the mk4 A22 same raised periscopes and air covers

[@arlingtonhynes]

Fletcher starts at 0:10

[@jasoncarswell7458]

0:41 - Why did the British feel it was necessary to specify no fewer than 15 tins of biscuits be stored in the turret?

[@mattkaustickomments]

The design of the front of the Churchills always seemed like an enemy projectile trap. Same for the embrasures. What was the reality in the field?

[@EmergencyChannel]

None of the British tanks had adequate armor sloping.

[@johnnypatterson7512]

David Fletcher never forms opinions - everything he says is fact.

[@ericgrace9995]

A like and comment to feed your algorithm.

[@matthewmoore5698]

Could have talked about the insignia when he close up the MG

[@Cobalt_05]

The Hybrid Churchill!

[@chriscookesuffolk]

Where possible, could we see some turret and or gun movement during tank chats?

[@asmith515151]

I wonder why the Churchill lacked a gun mantlet...seems like the area around the gun would be a ballistic weakness

[@edsonkidwell2522]

Play them both time to time both have there niche in WOTB

[@seductive_Octopus]

Girlfriend: Honey, we need to talk. I wish u would look at me, like u look at Tanks Me: ... Ausweichmanöver!!

[@filibertkraxner305]

Smoke! Full reverse! :-)

[@altaccccount]

I hope Mr.Fletchers alright, he sounds quite ill. Either way I hope its not serious, and great tank chat by the way.

[@swordsman1137]

That Churchill tank looks so big

[@LukeWalstead]

Love the video!

[@kirkmooneyham]

I'm curious if the lack of a mantlet on the gun created a shot trap.

[@spadegaming7577]

is the mk6 churchill in wot based on this tank?

[@jonnypariah1]

Seriously, who dislikes these videos???

[@67daffy]

T14 next to it interesting.

[@chrisoffer3074]

Churchill's look a bit agricultural to me but they were good

[@jamesellis2784]

Parking lot weight. Keeps parking lots from blowing away .

[@MrDgwphotos]

2:30 Operation Market Garden? The troops look like US Airborne troops.